We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of our students in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award this term.

Monday 20th April 2026 – Expedition Training Day
On Monday 20th April, Bronze DofE students attended a training day designed to equip them with the essential skills needed for their upcoming expedition.

Throughout the day, students developed a wide range of skills, including learning about the countryside code, how to read and interpret maps accurately, and how to navigate confidently using a compass.

They also took part in valuable first aid training, gaining knowledge that could prove vital in real-life situations. In addition, students learned how to pack their rucksacks efficiently, ensuring they were well-prepared while keeping their loads manageable. As part of their preparation, they worked collaboratively to create meal plans suitable for their expedition, considering both nutrition and practicality. Students were also shown how to use a Trangia stove safely, an essential skill for cooking during their expedition.

Tuesday 21st April 2026 – Practice Expedition Day
The following day, on Tuesday 21st April, students put their newly acquired skills into practice during a trip to Hainault Forest. This hands-on experience allowed them to apply their map-reading and compass-navigation skills in a real outdoor setting, building both confidence and independence.

During the trip, students worked exceptionally well as a team, supporting one another to solve problems and re-route when necessary to get back on track.

By the end of the training and field experience, students felt well-prepared and confident as they looked ahead to their assessed DofE expedition. They had developed not only practical outdoor skills but also the resilience and teamwork needed to succeed.

The students were brilliant throughout the entire experience. They demonstrated enthusiasm, teamwork and determination, embracing every challenge with a positive attitude. Experiences like this reflect the core aims of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award: building confidence, encouraging independence, developing life skills, and inspiring young people to take on new challenges and contribute positively to the world around them.

Bronze Assessed Expeditions

Wednesday 6th May – Thursday 7th May 2026 Year 9 TFA Students

Wednesday 20th May – Thursday 21st May 2026 Year 12 TFA and Beal Students

Students successfully completed their DofE Bronze Award expedition at Lambourne End Centre for Outdoor Learning.
Throughout the expedition, students worked effectively in teams to complete their routes, demonstrating excellent resilience, determination, communication, problem-solving skills and independence while navigating, managing camp responsibilities, and supporting one another through challenging conditions. They motivated each other, maintained high morale, and built new friendships through active engagement and collaboration.
The expedition provided a fantastic opportunity for students to build confidence, develop leadership and self-sufficiency skills, and experience the rewards of perseverance and teamwork. Staff were extremely impressed by the maturity and positive attitude shown by all participants, who truly embraced the spirit of the DofE Award and the personal development that lies at the heart of the programme.
All students represented the school admirably, with many expressing how much they enjoyed the experience and their enthusiasm for pursuing the Silver Award in the future.

Silver Practice Expedition

Wednesday 6th May – Friday 8th May 2026 Year 10 TFA Students
Students successfully completed their DofE Silver Practice Expedition in preparation for their assessed expedition later this year.

Throughout the expedition, students demonstrated strong commitment, teamwork and perseverance as they further developed their navigation, route-planning and expedition skills in increasingly challenging conditions.

As part of the practice expedition, each team worked collaboratively towards a shared aim and successfully presented their findings at the end of the expedition. Students showed creativity and organisation in researching and documenting their chosen topics while also reflecting on the importance of communication, leadership and effective teamwork in achieving their goals.

These presentations provided valuable experience in preparing for the expectations of the assessed expedition and highlighted the progress students have already made in becoming more confident, independent and self-sufficient participants.

Staff were highly impressed by the maturity, resilience and enthusiasm shown throughout the expedition, and we look forward to seeing students continue to build on these experiences as they prepare for their assessed expedition.

We would like to thank all staff, volunteers, and parents/carers for their continued support of the programme. Congratulations once again to all students on their fantastic achievements. Having successfully completed the expedition section, participants can now focus on completing the remaining sections of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award. For our Silver participants, the next exciting milestone is their assessed expedition, and we wish them every success as they continue their DofE journey.